Aqueous Gellable Pipeline Pig Composition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gelled chemical pigs face issues such as lack of abrasive power, slumping, tearing, and fluid bypass in large diameter pipelines, and decomposition under pressure, making them ineffective for pipelines with restricted access or compromised integrity.
Innovation Solution
An aqueous gellable composition comprising a dispersion of polyurethane polymer, crosslinkable water-soluble polymer, and natural polymer that forms a gelled product with enhanced tear and tensile strength, flexibility, and in situ degradability, allowing it to adapt to varying pipeline diameters and navigate complex bends.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If gelled chemical pigs are used in large diameter pipelines, then they can navigate complex bends and adapt to varying diameters, but they exhibit gravity-induced slumping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite gel structure comprising a three-dimensional polymeric network formed by crosslinking water-soluble polymers (such as polyacrylamide) with natural polymers (such as starch or cellulose). This composite structure provides both the flexibility needed to navigate bends and the structural stability to resist gravity-induced slumping in large diameter pipelines.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the gelled pig by adjusting crosslinking density, polymer concentration, and gel composition. These parameter changes enable the gel to maintain its shape and structural integrity while retaining the adaptability to conform to pipeline bends and diameter variations.
2Ease of operation
If conventional gelled pigs are used, then they can be deployed for fluid displacement and debris removal, but they lack abrasive power and may tear when contacting stubborn deposits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates abrasive particles within the gelled structure to provide mechanical cleaning capability. The composite gel matrix maintains structural integrity while the embedded abrasives enable effective removal of stubborn deposits without causing the pig to tear.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates local variations in the gelled pig structure, with different regions having different properties. The front surface may have higher abrasive content for deposit removal, while the body maintains flexibility for navigation, and the rear portion provides structural support to prevent tearing.
3Ease of operation
If gelled pigs with open cell construction are used, then they can be deployed for pipeline cleaning, but they permit displacement fluid to flow through them
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the gel structure by increasing crosslinking density and adjusting polymer concentration to reduce porosity. This creates a more dense gel matrix that maintains the deployability for cleaning operations while preventing displacement fluid from flowing through the pig.
4Ease of repair
If gelled pipeline pigs are designed to decompose within the pipeline, then they can be removed without mechanical extraction, but they may not retain functionality without slumping, tearing, or rupturing under tensile stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses environmentally sensitive parameters by incorporating polymers that respond to specific triggers (such as pH changes, temperature, or specific chemicals) present in the pipeline environment. This allows the gelled pig to maintain its structural integrity and functional properties during operation, then decompose on demand when exposed to the triggering condition, enabling removal without mechanical extraction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The gelled product effectively displaces fluid, removes debris, and isolates pipeline sections while maintaining integrity and flexibility, enabling safe removal without mechanical extraction in pipelines with restricted access or compromised integrity.
Implementation Method 1
an aqueous gellable composition which gels or sets to form a gelled product
Implementation Method 2
a crosslinkable water-soluble polymer and a crosslinking agent for the water-soluble polymer
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to an aqueous gellable composition that includes water; 10 to 45 composition wt. % of a crosslinkable water-soluble polymer including at least one functional group selected from the group of carboxylic acid and carboxylic acid derivative; 1 to 10 composition wt. % of an organic or inorganic crosslinking agent for the crosslinkable water-soluble polymer; 10 to 40 composition wt. % of a polyurethane polymer; and 0.1 to 5 composition wt. % of a natural polymer. The organic crosslinking agent includes at least one compound from the group of: polyalkyleneimines, polyalkylene polyamines, phenolic compounds combined with formaldehyde, and hydroquinone combined with hexamethylenetetramine. Also, the inorganic crosslinking agent includes at least one metal compound M, wherein M is from the group of: aluminum(III), chromium(III), iron(III), zirconium(III), and any mixture thereof.